Monks are a fun yet underrated class in Baldur’s Gate 3 with three subclasses. Depending on your subclass, you may build a warrior-like, a spell-hurling one, or the next God of martial arts. While they may differ, a few weapons work well with each Monk subclass.
What are monk weapons in BG3?
Monk weapons are weapons that Monks are proficient in, such as Simple Weapons and Shortswords. To find what weapons Monks are proficient in, take a look at the “Proficiency Bonus” section on your character sheet. From there simply hover over the “Simple Weapons” and “Martial Weapons” tabs for a list of weapons Monks are proficient in.
As Baldur’s Gate 3 itself says, “Monk weapons are those with which the Monk has Proficiency, and which do not have the two-handed weapons or heavy properties.” Here’s a rundown of what weapons and categories fit these conditions:
| One-Handed | Versatile |
| Clubs | Battleaxes |
| Daggers | Longswords |
| Flails | Quarterstaves |
| Handaxes | Spears |
| Hand Crossbows | Tridents |
| Javelins | Warhammers |
| Light Hammers | |
| Maces | |
| Morningstars | |
| Rapiers | |
| Scimitars | |
| Sickles | |
| Shortswords | |
| Slings | |
| War Picks |
Best weapons for Monks in BG3
The Monk’s weapon versatility can be incredible, but it also makes it much harder to find a weapon to suit them, your build, and your preferred playstyle. So, you can use any of these, and they’ll do a decent job.
Quarterstaffs are considered Monk weapons thanks to their versatile weapon property. Traditionally, two-handed weapons aren’t considered Monk weapons, but with the quarterstaffs, they don’t need to be wielded that way. They are only wielded that way for extra damage.
A few weapons are the best for Monks that you can obtain, but there are few because you’ll often fight without one.
| Name | Stats and Effects | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Slicing Shortsword | Deepflesh Slice: This attack will inflict bleeding if you have Advantage. Weapon enchantment plus one. Unlocks flourish and piercing strike. | It can be purchased from Lann Tarv in Moonrise Towers. |
| Markoheshkir (Quarterstaff) | Arcane Enchantment: You gain a plus one bonus to Spell Save DC and spell attack rolls. Arcane Battery: You’ll alleviate the arcane burden of spellcasting with the power of this staff. And then the next spell you cast won’t cost a spell cost. Kereska’s Favour is a Level 4 Evocation Spell. Unlock topple. | It can be found at the bottom of Ramazith’s Tower. |
| The Blood of Lathander(Mace) | Lathander’s Blessing: Once every Long Rest, when your hit points are at zero, you regain two to 12 hit points. Teammates within a nine-meter radius also get one to six hit points. Lathander’s Light: This will shed holy light in a six-meter radius. In combat, fiends and undead standing in the light will become Blinded unless they succeed in a Constitution Saving Throw. Damage: 1d6 + STR Modifier and plus three damage Bludgeoning Weapon Enchantment plus three Unlocks Sunbeam, a level six Evocation Spell. | It can be found in Rosymorn Monastery. |
Best gloves for Monks in BG3
Now, I went with the Way of the Open Hand Monk subclass, which means, as the name suggests, most of my attacks use my fists, so a weapon isn’t essential. If you’re like me and went this route, you’ll want to focus on items, like gloves, that enhance your unarmed combat proficiencies.
If you need some suggestions, these are my favorite gloves, all of which will enhance your damage and unarmed combat proficiencies:
- Gauntlet of the Tyrant — Dropped by Enver Gortash in the quest, Get Gortash’s Netherstone
- Enerverating Suffusion: Your unarmed attacks deal 1d4 Force damage.
- High Spellcasting: You gain a +1 bonus to Spell Save DC.
- Spell – Command: Cast as a Level 3 Spell and recharge via Long Rest.
- Gloves of Soul Catching — Rewarded after completing the quest ‘Save Hope‘ in Act III
- Soul Fist: Your unarmed attacks deal an additional 1d10 Force damage.
- Soul Catching: Once per turn, on an unarmed hit, you regain 10 hit points. Alternatively, you may forego healing to gain Advantage on Attack rolls and Saving throws until the end of your next turn.
- Constitution: +2, up to 20.
Since it can take a while to find some of the truly powerful gloves, you could choose a different subclass for your monk until you acquire some gloves that will actually help you out. Then, when you’ve got some good gloves, you can respec your character stats at Withers and select the Way of the Open Hand at that point.
These are the best weapons for Monks and some of the best gloves if you’re going the unarmed route in BG3.
